Last Updated on April 29, 2023
Swiss bicycle racer Fabian Cancellara has made a promise to return to competing after he crashed at the E3 Harelbeke.
Cancellara, a member of Trek Factory Racing, crashed last Friday during the early part of the race which was held in Belgium. He was brought to a local hospital where it was discovered that two minor fractures in his lower vertebrae resulted from the fall.
The 34-year-old was instructed his injuries would take weeks to recover, taking him out of the Classics season.
A day after the fall, Cancellara discussed the incident with a press corp, as well as his plans for the near future. The multiple world time-trial champion and one-day specialist was evidently experiencing pain and refused to specify a comeback date.
“It could be worse and I could be still in hospital or having an operation. Or worse case scenario it could have ended my career and I have to take the positives out of this. I have to see the positives,” the professional racer said.
This isn’t the first time Cancellara has fallen and lost his dream of winning the Classics. Back in 2012, a crash that lead to an injured collarbone took him out of the Tour of Flanders. At the London Olympic road race, he fell as well but was able to recover from both setbacks with an excellent performance the following year.
In 2013, the Swiss-Italian won the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. Last year Cancellara won the Tour of Flanders once more.
Gathering from his past unfortunate experiences, the racer said, “In 2012 the world really came down around me. Yesterday wasn’t easy but today is strange. It’s a strange feeling because I go home now. There’s no fix and I just have to wait a few weeks to heal. There’s not much I can do.”
“This is different but mentally maybe I’m more ready. I won’t give up because of a crash. We live with crashes and we can’t avoid that,” he added.
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